On Lexico-Semantic Analysis of Yorùbá Deviant Proverbs

Idayat Oyenike Saka

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11

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On Lexico-Semantic Analysis of Yorùbá Deviant Proverbs

Idayat Oyenike Saka^*

Published in International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 12, Issue 6)

Received: 29 October 2024 Accepted: 15 November 2024 Published: 29 November 2024

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Abstract

Proverbs are literary philosophical expressions in all languages including Yoruba. They are deployed to smooth communication delivery and also to enrich the intended messages. There are substantial numbers of research on Yoruba proverbs and proverbials. However, the present study examined the lexico-semantic relations between the primeval and certain deviant-constructed Yoruba proverbs, with a view to identifying the elements that define the frame, describe the semantic relations between them and account for the experience associated with the elements that brought the differences into discourse setting. Twenty (20) Yoruba primeval proverbs and their corresponding deviant versions were randomly selected and translated from the source language (SL) to the operational language (OL). The two versions of the proverbs were compared. Areas of differences in the two sets of the proverbs were identified and analyzed using the lens of frame semantics theory. The study discovered that the lexicalized items signaling deviation-frame between the two versions of the proverbs are made possible through relations of synonym, ambiguity, homograph, homonyms, and metonyms while the semantic relations were activated in substitution, paraphrase, and thematic shift. The study attributed the speaker’s experience engendering lexico-semantic disparity in the proverbs to the cultural incompetence and contextual equivalent. It is however noted that, the lexico-semantic relations between the primeval proverbs and their variants do not in any way exhibit contrary effects on the meaning and the performative functions of the deviant proverbs. This discovery posits that, unconscious speakers of deviant proverbs take cognizance of pragmatic equivalence rather than textual equivalence so as to make the context of the usage relevant irrespective of lexico- semantic deviations.

Published in	International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 12, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11
Page(s)	194-205
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Frame Semantics, Proverbs, Equivalence, Deviation, Semantic-relations

References

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[6]	Faturoti Olusegun Rotimi. Àgbéyè̩wò ÌhunÒweYorùbá, È̩gin: Jó̩nà Is̩é̩ Akadá ní Èdè Yorùbá, 2011, 2 (1), 55-65.
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Saka, I. O. (2024). On Lexico-Semantic Analysis of Yorùbá Deviant Proverbs. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 12(6), 194-205. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11

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ACS Style

Saka, I. O. On Lexico-Semantic Analysis of Yorùbá Deviant Proverbs. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2024, 12(6), 194-205. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11

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AMA Style

Saka IO. On Lexico-Semantic Analysis of Yorùbá Deviant Proverbs. Int J Lang Linguist. 2024;12(6):194-205. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11,
  author = {Idayat Oyenike Saka},
  title = {On Lexico-Semantic Analysis of Yorùbá Deviant Proverbs
},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {12},
  number = {6},
  pages = {194-205},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20241206.11},
  abstract = {Proverbs are literary philosophical expressions in all languages including Yoruba. They are deployed to smooth communication delivery and also to enrich the intended messages. There are substantial numbers of research on Yoruba proverbs and proverbials. However, the present study examined the lexico-semantic relations between the primeval and certain deviant-constructed Yoruba proverbs, with a view to identifying the elements that define the frame, describe the semantic relations between them and account for the experience associated with the elements that brought the differences into discourse setting. Twenty (20) Yoruba primeval proverbs and their corresponding deviant versions were randomly selected and translated from the source language (SL) to the operational language (OL). The two versions of the proverbs were compared. Areas of differences in the two sets of the proverbs were identified and analyzed using the lens of frame semantics theory. The study discovered that the lexicalized items signaling deviation-frame between the two versions of the proverbs are made possible through relations of synonym, ambiguity, homograph, homonyms, and metonyms while the semantic relations were activated in substitution, paraphrase, and thematic shift. The study attributed the speaker’s experience engendering lexico-semantic disparity in the proverbs to the cultural incompetence and contextual equivalent. It is however noted that, the lexico-semantic relations between the primeval proverbs and their variants do not in any way exhibit contrary effects on the meaning and the performative functions of the deviant proverbs. This discovery posits that, unconscious speakers of deviant proverbs take cognizance of pragmatic equivalence rather than textual equivalence so as to make the context of the usage relevant irrespective of lexico- semantic deviations.
},
 year = {2024}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - On Lexico-Semantic Analysis of Yorùbá Deviant Proverbs

AU  - Idayat Oyenike Saka
Y1  - 2024/11/29
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11
T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
SP  - 194
EP  - 205
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-0221
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11
AB  - Proverbs are literary philosophical expressions in all languages including Yoruba. They are deployed to smooth communication delivery and also to enrich the intended messages. There are substantial numbers of research on Yoruba proverbs and proverbials. However, the present study examined the lexico-semantic relations between the primeval and certain deviant-constructed Yoruba proverbs, with a view to identifying the elements that define the frame, describe the semantic relations between them and account for the experience associated with the elements that brought the differences into discourse setting. Twenty (20) Yoruba primeval proverbs and their corresponding deviant versions were randomly selected and translated from the source language (SL) to the operational language (OL). The two versions of the proverbs were compared. Areas of differences in the two sets of the proverbs were identified and analyzed using the lens of frame semantics theory. The study discovered that the lexicalized items signaling deviation-frame between the two versions of the proverbs are made possible through relations of synonym, ambiguity, homograph, homonyms, and metonyms while the semantic relations were activated in substitution, paraphrase, and thematic shift. The study attributed the speaker’s experience engendering lexico-semantic disparity in the proverbs to the cultural incompetence and contextual equivalent. It is however noted that, the lexico-semantic relations between the primeval proverbs and their variants do not in any way exhibit contrary effects on the meaning and the performative functions of the deviant proverbs. This discovery posits that, unconscious speakers of deviant proverbs take cognizance of pragmatic equivalence rather than textual equivalence so as to make the context of the usage relevant irrespective of lexico- semantic deviations.

VL  - 12
IS  - 6
ER  -

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Author Information

Idayat Oyenike Saka

Department of Yoruba, Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, Nigeria

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0004-5167-1944

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APA Style

Saka, I. O. (2024). On Lexico-Semantic Analysis of Yorùbá Deviant Proverbs. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 12(6), 194-205. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11

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ACS Style

Saka, I. O. On Lexico-Semantic Analysis of Yorùbá Deviant Proverbs. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2024, 12(6), 194-205. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11

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AMA Style

Saka IO. On Lexico-Semantic Analysis of Yorùbá Deviant Proverbs. Int J Lang Linguist. 2024;12(6):194-205. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11,
  author = {Idayat Oyenike Saka},
  title = {On Lexico-Semantic Analysis of Yorùbá Deviant Proverbs
},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {12},
  number = {6},
  pages = {194-205},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20241206.11},
  abstract = {Proverbs are literary philosophical expressions in all languages including Yoruba. They are deployed to smooth communication delivery and also to enrich the intended messages. There are substantial numbers of research on Yoruba proverbs and proverbials. However, the present study examined the lexico-semantic relations between the primeval and certain deviant-constructed Yoruba proverbs, with a view to identifying the elements that define the frame, describe the semantic relations between them and account for the experience associated with the elements that brought the differences into discourse setting. Twenty (20) Yoruba primeval proverbs and their corresponding deviant versions were randomly selected and translated from the source language (SL) to the operational language (OL). The two versions of the proverbs were compared. Areas of differences in the two sets of the proverbs were identified and analyzed using the lens of frame semantics theory. The study discovered that the lexicalized items signaling deviation-frame between the two versions of the proverbs are made possible through relations of synonym, ambiguity, homograph, homonyms, and metonyms while the semantic relations were activated in substitution, paraphrase, and thematic shift. The study attributed the speaker’s experience engendering lexico-semantic disparity in the proverbs to the cultural incompetence and contextual equivalent. It is however noted that, the lexico-semantic relations between the primeval proverbs and their variants do not in any way exhibit contrary effects on the meaning and the performative functions of the deviant proverbs. This discovery posits that, unconscious speakers of deviant proverbs take cognizance of pragmatic equivalence rather than textual equivalence so as to make the context of the usage relevant irrespective of lexico- semantic deviations.
},
 year = {2024}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - On Lexico-Semantic Analysis of Yorùbá Deviant Proverbs

AU  - Idayat Oyenike Saka
Y1  - 2024/11/29
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11
T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
SP  - 194
EP  - 205
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-0221
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20241206.11
AB  - Proverbs are literary philosophical expressions in all languages including Yoruba. They are deployed to smooth communication delivery and also to enrich the intended messages. There are substantial numbers of research on Yoruba proverbs and proverbials. However, the present study examined the lexico-semantic relations between the primeval and certain deviant-constructed Yoruba proverbs, with a view to identifying the elements that define the frame, describe the semantic relations between them and account for the experience associated with the elements that brought the differences into discourse setting. Twenty (20) Yoruba primeval proverbs and their corresponding deviant versions were randomly selected and translated from the source language (SL) to the operational language (OL). The two versions of the proverbs were compared. Areas of differences in the two sets of the proverbs were identified and analyzed using the lens of frame semantics theory. The study discovered that the lexicalized items signaling deviation-frame between the two versions of the proverbs are made possible through relations of synonym, ambiguity, homograph, homonyms, and metonyms while the semantic relations were activated in substitution, paraphrase, and thematic shift. The study attributed the speaker’s experience engendering lexico-semantic disparity in the proverbs to the cultural incompetence and contextual equivalent. It is however noted that, the lexico-semantic relations between the primeval proverbs and their variants do not in any way exhibit contrary effects on the meaning and the performative functions of the deviant proverbs. This discovery posits that, unconscious speakers of deviant proverbs take cognizance of pragmatic equivalence rather than textual equivalence so as to make the context of the usage relevant irrespective of lexico- semantic deviations.

VL  - 12
IS  - 6
ER  -

Copy | Download